Caesar Creek Vineyards Master Plan
The importance of land for a vineyard cannot be understated, and the history of this site provided the foundation for it redevelopment. The owner approached us to do a quick napkin sketch for ideas on how to expand revenue by providing a larger tasting room + event spaces while taking advantage of the view of the site’s rolling hills.
Location
Rural Xenia, OH
Project Type
Vineyard - Tasting Room + Event Space
Project Scope
Master Plan
Year Complete
2014
Scale
200 acres
Project Team
DANKE development (architect)
Study to Expand Amenities for a Vineyard on Revolutionary War Bounty Land
Caesar Creek Vineyards is a family owned farm and vineyard located on 200 acres in southeast Ohio. The vineyards have grown from an original 2.5 acres to now 10 acres with continuous test of new grapes for new types of wines.
Every project begins by digging into the site’s history + context. We love a good story, and this site provided a some excellent tea from its rich history. The land’s ownership dates back to the land bounty from the Revolutionary War. The original tract of land on which the house was built was a total of 1,480 acres and was transferred by deed, signed by one Thomas Jefferson from the Virginia Military Reservation to Benjamin Siller in 1803 in consideration of his service as an officer in the Revolutionary War on behalf of Virginia.
Originally there was an old wood framed settler’s house built in the early 1800’s. That home was replaced by the present standing Federal-style red brick farmhouse built in 1850 by William Spahr, who was born in Virginia and came to Ohio sometime in the 1820’s as a young boy. He purchased the land the old house was built on in 1832. The farmhouse sits at the highest point on the site and offers it a commanding view of the vineyard, creek, and surrounding rolling farmland.
The vineyard’s name derives from the name of the creek running through the property, which was named for Caesar, an escaped run-away slave from Kentucky who was adopted by the Shawnee in the 1780’s and reportedly lived on this land. According to local historians, the site also was known for its involvement in the underground railroad.
The goal of study was to develop a strategy to provide additional amenities for the vineyard to expand its revenue streams. Our recommendations were simple:
Restore the two-story Federal-style 1850’s farmhouse and adapt it into a high-end wine tasting + private event space - called the Jefferson Tasting Room. This would remove the later addition at the back of the house.
Provide a new timber framed tasting room, designed for larger groups with various interior + exterior seating options for guests to experience while paying homage to the site’s connection with the underground railroad.
Connect the two structures with a large wrap around patio with built-in fire pit + exterior seating to take advantage of the views of the creek’s valley + vineyard lined rolling hills.
